The Fort Hays State women's basketball team wraps up a quick two-game road trip Saturday (Dec. 9) when it travels to Emporia, Kan. to face off with Emporia State. First tip is set for 1:30 p.m. inside White Auditorium.
 
The Tigers enter the game 7-1 on the year and 2-1 in MIAA play after suffering its first loss of the season Wednesday, while the Lady Hornets are riding a three-game winning streak and are 5-2 overall and 1-0 in league action.
 
This is the 80th all-time meeting between the in-state rivals, with Emporia State holding a 48-31 lead in series and a 25-11 edge in Emporia. Tony Hobson is 5-15 against the Lady Hornets and 1-7 against ESU on the road. In fact, Hobson has played Emporia State more than any other progam in his time at FHSU, and the Tigers have only played Nebraska-Kearney more often all-time. After a long run of Emporia State dominance in the series (15 straight, 2003-13), the teams have split the last 10 games, 5-5. Emporia State has won the last two contests in the series after the Tigers won two straight.
 
The Tigers have defeated Emporia State five times since the start of the 2013-14 season, two more than any other school (Pittsburg State and Central Missouri, three each). The Lady Hornets have lost just 22 games in that span, with FHSU accounting for 23 percent of those losses.
 
Carly Heim is beginning to find her stride on the offensive end, averaging 13.3 points per game over the last four contests. Tatyana Legette reached double figures in points for the sixth-straight contest Wednesday, posting her third double-double of the season. The Topeka, Kan. native has had success against the Lady Hornets in the past, averaging nine points and just over five rebounds in four career games against ESU.
 
Emporia State dropped two of its first four games for the first time since 1995-96, but have bounced back to win its last three contests. The Lady Hornets sport a high-powered offense, scoring an average of 81.6 points per night, third-best in the league. However, they allow opponents 72.6 points each night, second-worst in the MIAA. They are the best team in the conference on the offensive glass, grabbing an average of 16.6 offensive rebounds per game. Tyra Jones is one of the most efficient scorers in the league, ranking eighth in the conference with 15.4 points per game while knocking down a league-best 74.1 percent of her shots. She also leads the team in rebounds (7.6 rpg) and blocks (nine, 1.3 bpg). Emily Miller (14.7 ppg) and Jacee Kramer (12.3) also average in double figures for the Lady Hornets. ESU is 3-0 at home this season.